It is widely held that the existence of corporate architecture represents a shift from hunter-gatherer lifeways toward increasing social complexity. Ancient monumental architecture in the north central region of Peru may represent the very first examples of such building in the Americas. An array of radiocarbon dates collected from Late Archaic (LA) sites in the region support this claim. This paper attempts to review the link between corporate monuments and a religious ideological base of power, which supported increasing social complexity in this region. Seven variables have been picked to test the relationship between architecture, religious ideology and social complexity. These seven variables of ritual architecture include the following: Monument Construction Material, Relative Spatial Arrangement of Monuments, Main Mound (MM) Location, Site Architectural Components (AC), MM Directional Orientation, Huanca (stone monoliths) Arrangement, and Visibility.

Three conclusions were drawn from data collected and analyzed from fourteen LA Norte Chico sites. This study also compares and contrasts data from the Norte Chico sites with those from other temporal and spatial sources. The primary conclusion for the present research is that a Late Archaic religious ideology existed and was shared among sites in the Pativilca and Fortaleza Valleys of the Norte Chico. This LA religion paralleled increasingly complex and hierarchical sociopolitical organization within sites, though it does not seem that a regional hierarchy among sites existed. This conclusion was based upon the presence/absence and arrangement of variables of ritual architecture and was especially apparent through review of sunken circular plazas throughout the Pativilca and Fortaleza sites. The second conclusion is that water and hill ideology, as well as ancestor/deity worship, was important to this LA religious ideology. This conclusion was drawn from review of main mound construction material, the presence of huancas and their arrangement, and evidence for visibility control. The final conclusion of the study finds that religious ideology was becoming more standardized throughout time. Increased standardization most likely paralleled further increase in social complexity and hierarchical sociopolitical organization. The evidence to support this conclusion appears in relative spatial arrangement of main mounds and site architectural components.

Ultimately, it seems the fourteen Late Archaic sites reviewed in the Pativilca and Fortaleza Valleys shared a strong ideological system grounded upon religion. The monumental architecture these people left behind leaves testimony to their ancient ritual and religious practices. Although theirs was a shared religious system, their beliefs and rituals seem not to have been enforced through coercive power from one site to another. This religion evolved throughout time and became increasingly more standardized as their sociopolitical system became increasingly organized.